Arts of Salado featured in March 2015 edition of Texas Highways

Texas Highways has published a five-page feature “Creative Country: The Artistic Enclave of Salado” in the pages of its March 2015 edition, which subscribers received last week and which hit the newsstands early this week.

Village seeks fed's help in addressing issue of turkey buzzards and black buzzards

At dusk and after dawn, they circle overhead and seem to have grown in numbers in the past year or so in Salado. Many Saladoans consider the black vulture and turkey vulture to be more of a nuisance than a necessity, though the large birds are nature’s garbage disposals.

For efforts in new media and traditional customer service, local real estate company honored

It’s still dark outside. The sun hasn’t come up yet, but a lone pickup truck is parked in front of the office at Century 21 Bill Bartlett. It belongs to Bill, who has been selling real estate in Bell County for more than four decades.

“In his 80 plus years of life, he has taken the adage about the early bird to heart,” Tim Fleischer said at the Jan. 8 Salado Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. “It is a work ethic that has been passed down to his daughters, with whom he continues on a daily basis, and now to his grand-daughter.”

Hermann salutes Broeckers for leadership work on successful bond election

Dave Hermann presented the Chairman’s Award of Excellence to Dave and Pat Broecker during the Salado Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Jan. 8. Hermann served as Chairman of the Chamber in 2014 and handed the gavel of leadership off to Tim Fleischer at the banquet.

The Salado Chamber of Commerce added the name of a sixth generation Bell County native to its Hall of Fame. His ancestors “entered Texas during the days of the Republic and settled in what is now Bell County in the late 1840s,” according to DebbieCharbonneau, who presented the award at the Chamber Awards Banquet Jan. 8.

LTC Donahue reminds Saladoans that soldier call to service does not end when service ends

Soldiers have a call to service, not just at home but abroad as well, Lt. Col. Michelle Donahue, commander of the Muleskinner Squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR) told the nearly 200 people gathered for the annual Salado Chamber of Commerce Banquet Jan. 8.

Chamber honors Tommye Prater for work on Christmas in October

It wasn’t until her final comment that you might have guessed about whom Maurine Nathanson was talking when she named Tommy Prater as the Salado Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year during the Jan. 8 Chamber Awards Banquet at Tenroc Ranch.

Full closure still planned for Thursday

Tomorrow's mainlane closure canceled due to chance of rain

The Northbound Mainlance closure scheduled for tonight (Tues. Dec. 16) is canceled. This was shown as #2A below. The bridge pour was completed last night and the subcontractor scheduled for the striping maintenance work tonight will not be available for the work.

Salado will kick off its annual Christmas Stroll with a Main Street parade at 5 p.m. Dec. 4. The Christmas Stroll Parade will begin at the corner of Royal and Main St. and proceed north to the Salado Civic Center for hot chocolate and cookies with jolly old St. Nick.

In Salado tradition, St. Nick will be the last entry of the parade, riding atop the Salado Volunteer Fire Department fire truck.

While Santa Claus will be at the end of parade, Tim and Marilyn Fleischer will be at the front of it. They have been selected as the Grand Marshals for this year’s parade.

Mayor Skip Blancett said this tonight while celebrating the results of two local option elections.

Village of Salado approved a $10.55 million bond election for the construction of a sewer system for the business district and west side of I-35 in a heavily contested race with 579 casting in favor and 458 voting against.

BellCAD confirms that freeze cannot be taken away

When then-State Rep. Fred Brown authored the bill that calling for a state constitutional amendment to allow Texas counties, junior colleges and cities to adopt a tax freeze on homesteads of those over age 65 and on homesteads of disable veterans, it passed the state House unanimously. In 2003, the constitutional amendment was approved by 81 percent of the voters statewide It seemed, at the time, like a no brainer. Freeze the municipal taxes that senior citizens pay, much like the school taxes for seniors have been frozen in Texas for many years.

TxDOT moves closure date back to Oct. 23

SALADO – I-35 northbound mainlanes will be closed to all traffic through Salado on Thursday, October 23, from 7 PM – 7 AM, to allow crews to set beams for the new southbound mainlane bridge over Salado Creek (working from the northbound side of the highway) and to complete a section of temporary pavement on the northbound mainlanes.

Proposed $10.55 million sewer bond election to be decided on Nov. 4

Early voting starts on Oct. 20The Village of Salado will host a Town Hall meeting on the proposed Sewer Bond election at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Salado Intermediate School. The meeting was originally slated for Oct. 23 at the same location but was moved late in the day yesterday, after the print edition of the Salado Village Voice newspaper was printed and mailed.

Saladoans are invited to an informal meeting with the developers of The Sanctuary, a 300-acre mixed use development proposed to be built on property along FM 2268 and at I-35 in the Village extra territorial jurisdiction.

Chocolate and Wine Weekend

tickets on sale online right now!

Tickets for the annual Chocolate and Wine Weekend events are on sale now. This is a weekend full of activities not to be missed by those who believe that the four basic food groups consist of white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and truffle. This event will take place throughout the Village of Salado with nine great events jam packed into one fun-filled weekend.

Aldermen enter contract negotiations with Kim Foutz

Salado aldermen voted unanimously at their Sept. 4 meeting to enter into contract negotiations with Kim Foutz, former assistant city manager for the City of Temple, to become the Village of Salado's first full-time city manager.

Salado initiative to put beer, wine sales on ballot meets deadline

Salado aldermen will consider at their Aug. 12 meeting an Ordinance calling for a November local option liquor election after a local couple turned in a petition with more than 500 names on it requesting that the election be called.

Meeting on June 28 will address future of 100 year old building

By Stephanie Hood

A renewed effort to preserve the Willingham Spring Baptist Church and School is underway and interested community members are invited to tour the site and discuss the future of the 100 year old building. A meeting of descendants and preservationists will be held 2 p.m. on June 28 at the Willingham Spring Baptist Church on FM 2843.

Paving project will close portions of southbound interstate in southern Bell County

Bell County - The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will temporarily close portions of southbound I-35, near Granger Road (exit 279) south of Salado and the Safety Rest Areas, Monday and Tuesday nights, June 16 & 17 from 7PM to 7AM.

Aerial ballet in ancient oaks of Salado's Pace Park

One-of-a-kind performance July 25

Blue Lapis Light will be dancing in the ancient oak trees of Pace Park in a free performance at 9 p.m. July 25.

This mesmerizing aerial ballet will “feature dancers in aerial silks suspended from trees and on tiger stands,” according to Lauren Peterson, Managing Director of Blue Lapis Light. “We have created this work specifically for the village of Salado with the aim of inspiring audiences and offering a prayer of peace for the planet.”

Velocity film crews capture British spirit of classic cars in Salado

British automobile pioneer Cecil Kimber and his MG Motorcar Company Ltd. could hardly have imagined the impact their first sports car would have on the automotive world. And now 90 years later, and more than 30 years since the last MG rolled from the storied factory at Abingdon-on-Thames, that passion shows no sign of letting up.

More than 100 enthusiasts gathered on the grounds of The Venue to show off 60 antique and classic MGs. Film crews from Velocity CHannel were on hand to film the road rally later in the afternoon and interviewed the many owners of the British cars.

Four candidates have filed for two two-year terms on the Village of Salado Board of Aldermen. They appear on the ballot in the following manner: Merle Stalcup, Bryan Fritch, Frank Coachman and Dr. Amber Preston-Dankert.

Four candidates have filed for Mayor of Salado. They appear on the ballot in the following manner: Danney McCort, Hans Fields, Skip Blancett and Rick Ashe. Following are their responses to questions that have been posed by the Salado Village Voice Newspaper.

Town hall meeting sheds light on details of Hidden Glenn proposal

If JES Development Company Inc. is awarded the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs 2014 Competitive Housing Tax Credit for a proposed 50-unit senior affordable living project in the Village of Salado Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction, the company will receive $580,000 in tax credits per year for the next 10 years.

I-35 Mainlane Closure in Salado March 26

Thomas Arnold bridge beams to be placed.

SALADO – I-35 northbound and southbound mainlanes will be closed to all traffic through Salado on Wednesday, March 26 from 7 PM – 7 AM, to allow crews to place bridge beams for the new Thomas Arnold bridge. The closure is based upon the weather. If weather is inclement today and tonight, the closing will be cancelled.

Watch artists create, compete on Saturday

Salado’s first-ever Edgy Art Show will be part of the Wildflower weekend.

Local artists will compete on the grounds of The Range at the Barton House, creating their own individual works of art that you will vote on. The Edgy Art Show Competition will be held 11 am.-3 p.m. on March 22. Admission is $5 and includes one vote. A $25 ticket includes six more votes and entry into a raffle to win the work of art that you voted for.

Kites for Kids postponed due to possible severe weather

Event rescheduled for March 22 at Peaceable Kingdom

Variety’s Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children announced today that it will postpone the2nd Annual Kites for Kids Day until Saturday, March 22, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The event was originally planned for tomorrow. The nonprofit group cites the impending severe weather as cause for the rescheduling.

Service Announces Listing of Georgetown, Salado Salamanders As Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act

Recognizing County and City Efforts to Protect Water Quality,

Agency Proposes Special Rule to Allow Limited Take of the Georgetown Salamander

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today (Feb. 21) announced it is listing the Georgetown and Salado salamanders, two small amphibians found in springs and caves around the Edwards Aquifer in central Texas, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, due to degradation of their habitat and changes in water flow and quality.

I-35 Full Closure in Belton Thursday, January 30

All northbound mainlanes to be closed overnight

BELTON – I-35 will be closed in the northbound direction through Belton on Thursday, January 30, from 7 PM – 7 AM in order to allow crews to shift traffic and move concrete traffic barrier. In addition to the mainlane closure, the Loop 121 and FM 436 crossings will be closed to expedite traffic flow on the access roads.

Reichert faces long road back to recovery,

family faces long road ahead in expenses

It’s a long road back for Kevin Reichert, who has been in the Intensive Care Unit of Parkland Burn Unit in Dallas for the past two weeks, undergoing multiple surgeries to address problems with skin grafts and previous surgeries in which scar tissue has not healed properly.

Petro reaches year-long goal of running 52 half-marathons in 52 weeks on New Year's Day

The sun came up on a windy, chilly New Year’s morning and found Suzanne Petro lined up at the starting line of a 13 mile race, along with about 1,000 runners. Most folks were still in bed, sleeping off the celebratory night before.

Church members take time during holiday to serve travelers on interstate

I-35 Mainlane Closure Nov. 11 in Salado (Bell County)

All lanes to be closed at FM 2268

WACO — On Nov. 11, from 7 pm – 7 am Nov. 12, the northbound and southbound mainlanes near FM 2268 in Salado will be closed to all traffic to allow the contractor to demolish the old FM 2268 bridge. The new FM 2268 bridge will also be closed during this time.

Contractor to reconstruct intersection

WACO — On Friday, October 25, starting at 7:00 pm, the intersection of Thomas Arnold Road and the northbound I-35 frontage road will be closed continuously to all traffic (this includes the Thomas Arnold crossing over I-35).

I-35 Mainlane Closure in Salado (Bell County)

All Lanes Closed at FM 2268

WACO — On Wednesday, October 23, starting at 7:00 pm, the northbound and southbound lanes near FM 2268 in Salado will be closed to all traffic to allow the contractor to remove the formwork from the new FM 2268 bridge. The existing FM 2268 bridge will also be closed during the work.

COMMENTARY

Are the best days of Salado behind us or before us?

After 46 years, the Salado Art Fair has been canceled, less than two months before the date of the show in late October.

The same week, the Public Arts League of Salado (PALS) canceled its fund raiser, A Taste of Salado, planned to take place at the Sculpture Garden the same time that the Cattlemen’s Ball is held at Tenroc Ranch.

Monthly, the state Comptroller releases news that sales tax revenues are declining for the Village of Salado, while other communities in Bell County and Central Texas see increases in their sales tax revenues.

Within a few weeks of each other, Adelea’s on Main St., a popular restaurant in Salado, and Horsefeathers, a very popular destination store in Salado, are shuttered with little or no warning.

Earlier this year, it appeared as if Mill Creek Golf Club might close its doors.

While there are individual, sometimes personal, explanations for most of these occurrences, their coincidence points to unspoken -- unspeakable -- questions.

What is happening to Salado? Are the best days of Salado behind, or before us? Why is this happening? Has Salado done something wrong? How can we fix it?

FM 2484 crossing lanes will also be closed to set bridge deck panels

WACO — On Tuesday, September 24, from 7:00 pm to approximately 1:00 am Wednesday morning, all northbound mainlanes near FM 2484 in Salado will be closed. Northbound traffic will detour off the freeway at Exit #286 (FM 2484) to the frontage road and reenter the mainlanes just south of Amity Road. In addition, the northbound-side frontage road will be closed to through traffic and open to local traffic only, between Salado Plaza Drive and FM 2484, during the same hours as the mainlane closure.